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4-H’s youngsters prepare for rededicated dairy show at Lycoming County Fair

By Mark Maroney 3 min read

Minutes before the Youth Dairy Show Tuesday at the 155th Lycoming County Fair in Hughesville, two brothers in a local 4-H Club were preparing their heifers.

Kason and Gauge Kitzmiller, both 9, of Unityville, were in the cow barn standing beside their Holstein dairy heifers, ready to walk them to the show area at the other end of the barn. Each had the white shirts on with badges and numbers for the judges and spectators to see.

This was the Youth Dairy Show in Honor of Greg Girven. Girven's family was on hand at the show. Girven passed away July 2 after a battle with cancer. He devoted countless hours to serving his community as a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician.

He also served as a 4-H leader with Pioneer Valley and vice chair of the Lycoming County Youth Livestock Committee.

The moment for walking their heifers was near.

"You keep eye contact with your cow," Gauge said, now in his second year at the fair, when asked what was an important part of scoring high in the show.

The brothers said they practiced keeping focus to be able to walk the heifers and keep them under control.

Dairy cattle from multiple breeds and sizes were on display. The types were listed for competitors seeking ribbons and spectators.

Sarah Thomas of Dublin, Ohio, near Columbus, served as judge, and Brett Bossard of Fabius, New York, was the Fitting and Showmanship judge.

Breeds judged included Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, Lineback, Milking Shorthorn and Red & White.

In another barn with lambs and goats, Jaxson Steiger, 9, of Hughesville who is with Back Country Roads 4-H, was sitting on a ledge above the lamb pen in the barn where lambs, sheep and goats stood gnawing on food and looking for sips of water.

He had shown two lambs and had goats near the lamb pen.

Ayva Burgett, 13, of Muncy, but attending East Lycoming School District, is with Pioneer Valley 4-H Club.

This was her fifth year.

Asked what she enjoyed most she replied, "Showing the new animals and trying different things."

Her sheep was a Hampshire Cross, and it was with others devouring pellets made from soybean and 16 % sheep food.

Friday was when various livestock will be sold at auction, she said.

The 4-H Food Stand was open for breakfast 8 a.m. and remains open to 11 p.m. each day of the fair.

The stand cannot be missed with its 4-H clover logo sign at the entrance to the barns.

Lycoming County 4-H with Penn State Extension has a unique program offered to educate the youth of the surrounding area, available to youths ages 5-18.

The fair continues through Saturday.

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